Free pattern…and reflections on the perfect knitted dishcloth
Like many households, we are trying to “reduce, reuse and recycle”. At least I am, and I’m forcing everyone else come along for the ride. We have been kitchen sponge users for a couple of decades now. A while back I knitted some cotton dishcloths but they were rejected by a majority (ie everyone except…
Read MoreBook recommendation: The Art of Dressing
Have you ever read a book that came just at the right time? The Art of Dressing by Tziporah Salamon was like that for me. I borrowed it from the library last week and had been feeling sort of flat about fashion and dressing. Uninspired, a bit bored. This book, in all its colour and…
Read More3 useful tips for cutting out
Do you enjoy cutting fabric, or do you find it anxiety-producing? I know not everyone enjoys cutting out; I quite like it though. Although I trained as a patternmaker, I started my career as a junior cutter, and worked as a cutter on and off for about 9 years. The most expensive fabric I ever…
Read MoreNinja vs Incredible: book week costumes
It’s been a week of creativity here at Haywood Homestead. The dress-ups box was raided and the hot glue gun’s been going overtime, as the finishing touches were put on book week costumes. The doomed Lucky Prescott costume (see last week’s post) got replaced by Plan B: I converted the Ladybug Miraculous catsuit (made for…
Read MoreCountdown to Book Week costumes
Sunday afternoon was spent sewing things for Book Week costumes. It was pleasant to sit and sew in the warm kitchen, as the hail thrashed the windows and the trees bent over horizontally outside. For international readers, Aussie schools celebrate Children’s Book Week by inviting students dress up as their favourite book character. Our school…
Read MoreStyle 2685: fitted, finished and just fine
The yellow dress I started for my favourite 10 year old last weekend is now officially finished. She likes it. The pattern is from 1979, which she considers “olden days”. I thought when I was sewing it, the gathering didn’t seem very full. Although my fabric is a bit crisper than the dress is designed…
Read MoreStyle 2685 or The Case of the Missing Collar
High on the euphoria of actually completing a project on the same day as I started it (swimming trunks for Ken doll), I decided to make something else quick and easy. Or so I thought. In my fabric collection, I came across this pretty dress pattern stored with some fabric my favourite 10 year old…
Read MoreWhat Ken needs (apart from a decent haircut)
After sewing two jumpsuits in a row I badly needed a quick “instant gratification” project. What could be more perfect than swimming trunks for Ken! The poor doll has been swimming in the nuddy while Barbie’s been doing laps in her snazzy bikini. However, my favourite eight year old tells me he’s actually wearing a…
Read MoreRe-creating Thayaht’s Tuta: mission complete
Folks, I’m happy to report that I’ve finished the Tuta and it’s an outstanding success. Read the previous posts here: Part 1 introduction, Part 2 the toile and Part 3 work in progress. I love the utility feel of it…..the pockets, the way the top blouses, the leg cut, all those opportunities for topstitching… The…
Read MoreRe-creating Thayaht’s Tuta Part 3: work in progress
Hello! Read the previous posts on this project: Part 1 Introduction and Part 2 where I got started on it. I’ve never worn a jumpsuit in my life and I think I’m a convert. This week I fitted and finalized the pattern, cut out a navy blue Wear-out-of-the-house Tuta….and haven’t finished it. (It’s school holidays…
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